Brief:
Tube Rocket, with transition

Construction:
I received t' package, matey, and t' kit was well packaged. Avast! It included 2 main body tubes, arrr, matey, a 3.1”x 34” long tube, ya bilge rat, and a 2.14” x 12” body tube, as well as nose cone, transition, motor mount parts. Begad! It also comes with (6) 3.1” Tube couplers, shiver me timbers, which are used for t' fins. Ahoy! Avast, matey, me proud beauty! They are pretty durable. As well as (2) ½” diameter launch lugs. T' only common thin' is the assembly o' t' Motor mount, ya bilge rat, and t' shock cord anchor system. Avast! I did not receive any instructions, but I had some idea as t' how t' build it. Begad! I constructed t' entire motor mount assembly usin' 5-minute epoxy. Avast! I requested a 29mm motor mount, which is what he sent me.

I didn't get any instructions for this kit, as it was a Beta test. But I had an idea o' how t' build it. Begad! Blimey! I looked at t' basic parts. Ahoy! Arrr! I got a vision o' how to build it in me head, shiver me timbers, matey, then I got t' work. Ya scallywag! It is relatively easy for the intermediate flyer t' build. Begad! T' tube couplers are butted against each other, as well as t' airframe. Avast, me proud beauty! Once you get t' first coupler on, matey, matey, ya bilge rat, t' rest o' them are simply butted into place. Arrr! I used sprin' clamps t' help clamp t' portions together, so that I could ensure a good bond betwixt couplers. T' only mod I made, was t' scuff some glassine off o' t' contact points, t' help t' epoxy adhere better. Blimey! I used basic 5 and 15 minute epoxy. Everythin' went together without a hitch. Begad! I cant really give any con's about this kit. Aye aye!

Finishing:
Pros: It is rather easy t' come up with exotic ideas for paint schemes, arrr, for instance, like I did on me rocket, ya bilge rat, you can paint every other tube coupler (fin) an alternatin' color, t' give it an "exotic" touch. I used Rustoleum Primer and paint. Cons: If you want t' paint t' inside o' t' couplers, it will be extra work for you.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
First flight be in March o' 2001. I used a G64-4w, and I upped t' ejection charge a little, since it was a larger diameter. Begad! Blimey! I used a simple screw and a washer for retention. Ahoy! Blimey! After passin' it through RSO, me bucko, me bucko, and puttin' it on t' pad, it was time t' witness t' moment o' truth. Blimey! Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! Blimey! It lit instantly, me bucko, me hearties, ya bilge rat, and whistled off the pad. Avast, me proud beauty! T' ejection charge went off just as t' rocket hit apogee, and the 36" parachute opened beautifully. Aye aye! Blimey! It drifted a little ways, but was recovered. Upon recoverin' it, it was found that one o' t' tube couplers had "caved" in. Begad! Blimey! T' simplest and quickest remedy was t' "pop" it back out. Arrr!

Next up, I loaded her up with a G125-5t. A pass through RSO and she was on t' pad within 5 minutes. After t' usual countdown, matey, shiver me timbers, t' motor lit, shiver me timbers, and it practically exploded off t' pad, and up to about 750 feet. Begad! T' chute deployed, and it had a flawless recovery. Avast! No problems with t' tubes this time. Arrr! Blimey!

I teamed up with a friend o' mine, ya bilge rat, me bucko, matey, and we loaded up an H128-M for it. Begad! After a few problems with igniters, she took t' t' air, t' about 1200 feet. Avast! The chute deployed right on cue, and I had t' walk a little further, but it was an impressive flight, nonetheless.

I flew t' rocket again about a year later, ya bilge rat, on a G64, me bucko, matey, and then an H128. Both flights were flawless. Avast!

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
I'd suggest this kit for t' intermediate flyer, ya bilge rat, as it requires a little patience t' build, but if built right, arrr, it will reward you with some good flights. Aye aye! Blimey! Blimey! This kit always gets attention at our launches. Ahoy! Begad! Blimey! It's waitin' for an Aerotech I200 :)

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5